Navajo Technical University

Washington, DC – On January 8, 2024, the NTU Environmental Science team was awarded $40,000 for their plan to increase renewable energy and food sovereignty on campus. Navajo Technical University has been recognized as the winner of the U.S. Department of Energy American-Made TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize!

Special thanks to the Food Sovereignty & Energy Nexus on Navajo Land team, consisting of Dr. Abhishek RoyChowdhury, Darlene Wilson, Davina Spencer, and Christine Whitehorse, for developing a winning submission.

This team has developed a project plan to enhance the campus garden that Environmental Science students have cultivated from scratch over the past two years. The garden has flourished with various crops, and the team aims to revitalize the connection between the Navajo people and their land by promoting food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture. They accomplish this by integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), modern sustainable technologies, and community education at Navajo Technical University. Their efforts foster healthy communities and contribute to a resilient future within the Navajo Nation.

Under the guidance of Dr. RoyChowdhury, students participate in community workshops that focus on planting and irrigation techniques within the university garden. The project employs traditional Navajo farming methods, harvests rainwater, and incorporates solar-powered irrigation systems. Dr. Roychowdhury expressed gratitude, stating, “This is a huge motivation for our students, department, and the NTU family. Thank you, everyone, for your unwavering support of our department and students.”

Each Phase 1 winner’s TCU received a $40,000 cash prize for their outstanding work. The Food Sovereignty & Energy Nexus on Navajo Land team and other Phase 1 winners will now advance to Phase 2a. In this phase, they will complete all necessary pre-work and obtain permits for the construction of their project, competing for a chance to win an additional $75,000 cash award before building their project.

The American-Made Tribal College and University (TCU) Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize provides $4.1 million directly to TCUs for student-led projects to plan and construct renewable energy systems that support Tribal food sovereignty initiatives on TCU campuses. This prize is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Learn more about the American-Made program at https://americanmadeprogram.org

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For more information, contact:

Abhishek RoyChowdhury, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Natural Resources
P: 505-387-7434
E: aroychowdhury@navajotech.edu

Navajo Technical University continues to honor Diné culture and language while educating people for the future.

Dale Morgan, Communications Specialist
dmorgan@navajotech.edu

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NTU Environmental Science Team

NTU Environmental Science Team